Mainer witha couple questions

[doughtdawg]

Hey guys, I live in Maine and ice fishing is just around the corner. I am in the middle of designing another new hardside and originally was going to down size from 6x8 to 4x6 to make it more portable. But I just upgraded my transportation to a polaris ranger with matt tracks on it so pretty much hauling a big shack isn't going to be a problem. I am now thinking of building a big one, something like 7X14 or 15. In maine nobody has anything that big and I know you guys do. So my question to you is... How big are your shacks and what do you haul them around with on the ice?  What do you think the weight of a shack like mine would be? Thanks in advance!!!
Alan

[Skipper]

The real biguns get drug around with plow trucks and tow trucks. I have even seen an international tractor used. The have them on Mille Lacs 10x20 and up, it takes some real power to move them.

Weight is relative to how you build it, keep it light and you may be fine. Remember that it takes quite a bit of tourqe to turn those tracks too, you dont want to destroy your rangers drive belt every time you move the shack.

Final answer..... I dunno, you will have to try it.....

[amortec]

My old Polairs 4x4 with the stiff axle in the rear will pull my 8x12 crank up, and its Heavy, ...as long as the snows not to hard every thing goes good. You have the perfect set up with that track system,that's the hot ticket in our area. Some  people with 6.5 x 10 crank ups have set up there houses with skis on the wheels when the snow gets deep. They will drive back and forth and pack down a road several times then hook up to the house and move it to a new spot. One thing you should do is make up a hinged hitch so you can crank down with out unhooking from your Ranger.